000
FXUS63 KGRR 112130
AFDGRR
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Rapids MI
430 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
LATEST UPDATE...
Update
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 326 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
The next few days will be rather snowy. Another shot of arctic air
will move over the lake Tuesday and heavy lake effect snow along
with blowing and drifting is expected, especially closer to the lake
shore. Another clipper will move across the state Wednesday and more
accumulating snow can be expected.
Temperatures will fall through the day Tuesday as arctic air flows
south and end up mostly in the teens by late Tuesday. Temperatures
should rise above freezing by Saturday.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 429 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
Based on current radar trends, we canceled the advisory for
Montcalm, Gratiot, Ionia and Clinton counties. The heavy snow band
will remain south of those areas.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday night)
Issued at 326 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
Forecast concerns deal with precipitation trends through the period.
Three systems will affect the cwa during the short term. The first
is a clipper that is just crossing the Mississippi near the Quad
Cities. Regional radar shows a deformation band of snow on the north
side of the track of the low and short range models such as the
HRRR, Nam3km, WRFARW all show this deformation snow moving across
the I-96/I-94 corridors this evening. It is the reason we extended
the winter weather advisory eastward this morning. Accumulations up
to 4 inches are possible with this band. However, deformation bands
tend to be narrow and it`s quite possible that only portions of
those counties will see the higher end of those totals, depending on
exactly where the boundary moves through.
Arctic air will flow in behind the departing clipper. H8 temps will
fall from -6c to -16c by 12z Tuesday. Lake effect snow will develop
and affect mostly the lake shore areas. Accumulations up to 5 inches
are possible along the lake shore tonight and up to 9 inches
Tuesday. Due to the NNW wind flow, locations east of US-131 will see
considerably less snow...perhaps up to 3 inches. Windy conditions
will develop tonight and significant blowing and drifting can be
expected along the lake shore.
The snow will diminish Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, but the
next clipper will be quickly moving toward the cwa. Another 1 to 4
inches of snow can be expected late Wednesday and Wednesday night.
.LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday)
Issued at 326 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
Some sizable differences are noted between the GFS and ECMWF through
the long term period, so overall confidence in forecast details is
lower than average. Have opted to follow the ECMWF though for
guidance through the long term period.
Most of the long term will feature seasonable temperatures for mid
December with highs in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Tried to trend
temperatures towards the cooler ECMWF numbers over the weekend. A
parade of shortwaves are still forecast to move through the Great
Lakes region in the northwest upper flow. The first surface low is
forecast to move through our area from Thursday night into Friday
night. A lake enhanced environment is in place, so the highest
chances at accumulating snow will be towards Lake Michigan. The next
low pressure system is forecast out around the Sunday time frame.
The GFS is warmer, further north and quicker. Like the more southern
track of the ECMWF which would bring a good chance at accumulating
synoptic snow to much of our forecast area. Too early to nail down
details and our current forecast chances for snow will need to be
raised with time.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon)
Issued at 124 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
The snow and freezing drizzle of the morning hours has lifted
north of the TAF sites as of 18z. Additional weather significant
for aircraft operations will move in from the south in the next
few hours however. Heavier snow will impact all of the TAF sites
between 19z and 03z. Visibilities and ceilings will lower to IFR
once again in this heavier snow band. The snow will gradually
taper off inland during the overnight hours. Lake effect snow will
ramp up in a northwest flow overnight and on Tuesday and mainly
impact KMKG. KGRR and KAZO will see snow at times from these snow
bands. Winds will become gusty from the northwest overnight and on
Tuesday with 15-30 knot winds expected.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 326 PM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
No changes to the galewarning. An Arctic cold front will move across
the lake late tonight and gale force winds will develop and continue
through Tuesday.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1023 AM EST Mon Dec 11 2017
Rivers are running near normal levels. No flooding or significant
rises in river levels are expected. Snow is forecast periodically
through the week.
Temperatures have been near to below freezing since last Tuesday
night and similar temperatures are expected to persist through the
end of this week. This should allow ice to begin forming on area
rivers, especially on the Muskegon River in Central Lower
Michigan.
&&
.GRR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MI...Winter Storm Warning until 7 AM EST Wednesday for MIZ037-043-050-
056-064-071.
Winter Weather Advisory until 7 AM EST Wednesday for MIZ038-039-
044-057-065-072.
Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM EST Tuesday for MIZ066-067-
073-074.
LM...GaleWarning until 7 PM EST Tuesday for LMZ844>849.
&&
$$
UPDATE...04
SYNOPSIS...04
SHORT TERM...04
LONG TERM...Duke
AVIATION...Duke
HYDROLOGY...63
MARINE...04